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The purpose of this podcast is to remind you that Jesus Christ is coming back soon and that you need to be prepared. This broadcast is not about predictions, nor is it about setting dates as some foolishly have done, however it is all about preparation.
First, today, let’s look at some Signs of His Coming in the news.
The disciples asked Jesus in Matthew 24:3, “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Jesus Christ then went on to give them (and us) clear signs that show us when we can begin to expect to see the coming of the Lord and the end of the world. Those signs include:
1. the appearance of false Christs and false prophets
2. wars and rumors of wars
3. famines
4. pestilences (fatal epidemic diseases)
5. earthquakes in divers (various) places
6. increased persecution of believers
7. the Gospel being preached in all the world
8. signs and great wonders in the heavens (involving the sun, moon, stars, and planetary movements)
9. distress and perplexity among people
10. increased violence “as in the days of Noah”
11. increased homosexuality and sexual immorality “as it was in the days of Lot”
12. the rise of “Gog and Magog” (which many Bible scholars believe refers to Russia)
13. the rise of the “kings of the east” (which many Bible scholars believe refers to China)
14. increase in knowledge (science and technology)
15. apostasy in the church
16. interest in a unified world government to bring about global peace
17. interest in the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem
The Bible also speaks of other signs which will be evident in “perilous times” in Second Timothy 3. Those signs are people being:
18. selfish
19. covetous
20. boasters
21. proud
22. blasphemers
23. disobedient to parents
24. unthankful
25. unholy
26. without natural affection
27. trucebreakers
28. false accusers
29. incontinent
30. fierce
31. despisers of those that are good
32. traitors
33. heady
34. high-minded
35. lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God
36. having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.
Other signs of the times which have been gleaned from Scripture include:
37. scoffers who mock of Christ’s return
38. movement toward a one-world religion
39. outpouring of the Holy Spirit
40. outbreak of demonic and occultic activity
41. re-establishment of Israel
42. Arab hostility toward Israel
43. re-unification of Europe
44. movement toward a one-world economy
Looking at world events through the lens of the Word of God, let’s look at some headlines from today’s news that point to the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
First, today, under the Sign category of DISEASES & EPIDEMICS — According to the Associated Press, Six U.S. military planes arrived in the Ebola hot zone on Thursday with more Marines, as West Africa’s leaders pleaded for the world’s help in dealing with a crisis that one called “a tragedy unforeseen in modern times.” Across Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea, children are being orphaned and infected doctors and nurses are being lost to the disease. Tom Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the Ebola outbreak reminded him of the start of the AIDS epidemic. He said, “We have to work now so this is not the next AIDS.”
Second, today, under the Sign category of WARS & RUMORS OF WARS — According to the Associated Press, an Australian jet fighter has made the country’s first airstrike against the Islamic State in Iraq since the Australian government committed its air force to combat missions. The Australian Defense Force did not say what type of facility had been attacked or where in northern Iraq it was. Australia currently has six Super Hornets based in the United Arab Emirates. A 200-strong ground force including Special Forces are waiting for legal guarantees from the Iraqi government before they enter that country to advise and assist Iraqi security forces.
Third, today, under the Sign category of DISTRESS AMONG NATIONS — According to Radio Free Europe, Ukraine has urged the European Union not to accept pro-Russian rebels carving out a de facto state in the east of the country, warning that it could destabilize Europe. The country’s foreign minister also urged Moscow to dissuade separatists from holding their own elections. He said “fake elections” organized by the rebels in Donetsk and Luhansk would reinforce impressions that eastern Ukraine is becoming a long-term “frozen conflict” like other Moscow-backed breakaway regions.
Fourth, today, under the Sign category of EARTHQUAKES IN DIVERS PLACES — According to Weather.com, an earthquake southwest of Easter Island prompted evacuations and created a minor tsunami reaching more than 2,000 miles on Wednesday night. Authorities said they evacuated around 350 people in low-lying areas. A “state of caution” was declared, but there were no major damages or injuries reported.
Fifth, today, under the Sign category of INCREASE IN VIOLENCE — According to The Christian Post, a United Nations report highlighting the human rights violations of the Islamic State’s jihadist campaign in Iraq found that over 24,000 Iraqi civilians have been injured or killed by ISIS in the first eight months of 2014, and the extremists have taken up the practices of recruiting 12- and 13-year-old soldiers and forcing women and girls into sex slavery. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in conjunction with the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq released a report that investigated ISIS’ violations of human rights by conducting interviews with over 500 internally displaced witnesses. The witnesses told the UN investigators of the atrocious ways in which the terrorists were killing, kidnapping, and persecuting citizens of all religious beliefs, including those holding ISIS’ own faith of Sunni Islam.
The Bible says in Revelation 19:11-12: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.”
You can read these stories in more detail and get more Second Coming-related news on our website at Second Coming Herald.com
Now, it’s time for Prophecy Bootcamp.
Prophecy Bootcamp is where we deal with the basics of prophecy, the Second Coming of Christ, and what will happen in the future according to the Bible. Our aim here is not to make predictions but to help you get prepared by understanding how things will unfold in the end times.
Our topic for today is titled “Keys to Unlocking the Future (Part 2)” from Dr. Ed Hindson’s book “Revelation: Unlocking the Future”.
The Apocalypse calls itself a “prophecy” of future events. While it combines apocalyptic visions with epistolary instructions, the Revelation is essentially a book of New Testament prophecy. It is an inspired book of prophetic visions of the future. These focus on scenes both in heaven and on earth, both of Israel and the Church, and cover a span of time including the Tribulation period, the Millennial Kingdom, and the eternal state.
New Testament scholar Bruce Metzger reminds us: “In order to become oriented to the book of Revelation, one must take seriously what the author says happened. John tells us that he had a series of visions. He says that he ‘heard’ certain words and ‘saw’ certain visions.” Metzger then adds, “Such accounts combine cognitive insight with emotional response. They invite the reader or listener to enter into the experience being recounted and to participate in it, triggering mental images of that which is described.”
It is this exciting sense of personal participation that raises one of the great problems encountered in studying the Apocalypse: There is always a great temptation to read about the future through the eyes of the present! From our current standpoint in history, we presume to speculate on how the events predicted in Revelation will eventually be fulfilled. The problem is that each generation tends to assume that it is the terminal generation and that the end will come in their lifetime.
With that issue in mind, we will look at “the nature of symbolic language” on our next broadcast/podcast.
In closing, let’s consider what God wants you and me to do in light of His Second Coming.
Jesus Christ said in Luke 19:13 to “Occupy till I come.” In light of that, we are continuing our Bible study series on the books of First & Second Thessalonians which Paul wrote to believers who had concerns about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and what they should do as they waited. This section is titled “Handling Your Sex Drive (Part 8)” from the book “Waiting on the Second Coming” by Ray C. Stedman.
The apostle Paul recaps this teaching in two wonderful verses: “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness [wholeness]. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.”
These solemn words of warning are set against the background of God’s yearning for a whole person. God has called us to wholeness. That is what He can create if we obey what He says. If we disregard His instructions we are not only turning our backs on what He has said, but on God Himself and His supply of power to enable us to carry out His instructions.
In the campaign against drug abuse we are told that what we need to teach children is to “just say no.” But those who are already addicted to drugs tell us that is difficult to do. When the terrible passion for a drug is throbbing through every vessel of the body, it is very hard to “just say no.” The will is not strong enough, and they give in again and again. Now God knows that. He knows how we function. That is why He has provided a new resource for believers — the Holy Spirit. Remember the wonderful promise of Ephesians 3:20: “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”
If we give the excuse that we cannot do what God commands, we deny that we have been provided with an extra resource. We may need to exercise our will to “just say no,” but then we must immediately cast ourselves upon the Spirit of God within us — the Lord Jesus made available by the Spirit. Resting upon that presence, we must turn and walk away. We can do it. We have the power. Millions can testify that what they could not do by their own will they were able to do by relying on the power of God.
If the Lord tarries His coming and we live, we will continue looking at this topic in our next broadcast/podcast.
Remember the words of the Lord in Matthew 24:42: “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Matthew 24:44 says, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
If you are not ready for the return of Jesus Christ, may I encourage you to get ready today by receiving Him as your Savior. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh. Let us join in the prayer of John the Revelator — “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” God bless you.
Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in twenty-three foreign countries. He is the author of thirty-four books. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry which publishes a monthly magazine called The Torch Leader. He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts, The Prayer Motivator Devotional and the Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report and the Second Coming Watch Update. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, and a Master’s degree in Religion from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica for twenty-five years. God has blessed their union with seven children. Find out more at www.danielwhyte3.com. Follow Daniel Whyte III on Twitter @prophetdaniel3 or on Facebook.
BCNN1 WP 